Tom Freer obituary

My friend Tom Freer, who has died aged 88, was a Gloucestershire man. He was a handsome fellow, could be good company, despite a retiring nature, and was always keen to learn. Anything he knew about, he knew a lot about.

Tom was born in Little Compton. After attending Scaitcliffe school (now Bishopsgate school) in Surrey, he went to Eton and gained an exhibition to Cambridge in 1939, which he turned down in favour of the army. He was rejected as being too young, so he then applied to the RAF, expressing the wish to be a navigator. At the interview he was persuaded to be a pilot.

He trained on Tiger Moths in South Africa and on Bristol Blenheims, Avro Ansons and Bristol Beaufighters in the UK. He went by ship to Ghana and was soon delivering Beaufighters to Egypt. Later he was based with 227 Squadron in Malta. He shot down a Heinkel bomber and a Junkers Ju 88. He was personal pilot to Sir Keith Park, head of Fighter Command at the time of the Battle of Britain.

Tom was awarded the Distinguished Flying Cross. He was shot down and interned in Turkey, but escaped to Cyprus and then Egypt, where he became an instructor. He was active in the Sicily landings and the invasion of the Dodecanese islands. In September 1944 he was posted to 272 Squadron in Foggia, Italy. He was shot down attacking the Italian battleship Conte di Cavour, ending up at the PoW camp Stalag Luft III.

On returning home after liberation in May 1945, he decided to walk the last four miles to Little Compton. News of his release had not reached his home and his parents did not immediately recognise the son they had last seen six years previously. But the dogs did – they yelped with joy in a scene that reminded Tom of the return of Ulysses.

He briefly returned to the RAF at Filton, Bristol, and then had a varied career in civil flying – including transporting the Hallé Orchestra. He worked for Croydon Airport Charter Company, Scottish Airlines and British European Airways, becoming a test pilot and even having a go at the Comet 4. He was an expert skier into old age. Seaplanes, maps, the mouthpieces of horns, badgers and otters were some of his other special interests.

For 40 years he loved and looked after Miranda Mackintosh. They finally signed marriage certificates in 2002. She survives him.